Reception celebrates RU's distinguished women
Raising clasped hands and taking bows to enthusiastic applause, Radford University's Distinguished Women for 2013 were recognized on Friday, March 29, at a reception in their honor, the closing event on campus for Women's History Month.
Hosted by RU President Penelope W. Kyle, the late-afternoon reception in the atrium of the Covington Center for Visual and Performing Arts recognized women's professional achievements and their contributions to Radford. All segments of the campus community were represented: students, staff, faculty and administrators.
Professor Moira Baker, director of the Women's Studies Program, organized the second annual monthlong observance and made opening remarks. She thanked everyone involved, expressing special appreciation to Kyle for her support and for hosting the reception, and to Provost Sam Minner for helping to secure funding for speakers and other events.
Baker listed highlights of the month's events, summarized achievements in the past year for women's studies at Radford and proposed a campus mentoring project in which successful women would share their experience with their younger colleagues.
Baker then introduced the president, who spoke about women's gains but emphasized that much work remains to be done. "There's a lot of progress we still need to make," Kyle said, drawing applause when she added, "We all have to work to make life better for each and every one of us—women and men."
A popular feature of Women's History Month on campus is a display of posters with photos of those honored as distinguished women. In closing the formal portion of the reception, Baker recognized Jonathan Mayer of Printing Services for producing the posters and Lora Gordon, university photographer, for creating the women's portraits. Gordon was also among the women honored this year.
The 2013 distinguished women were selected based on their commitment to their work, contributions to the university and service to others. With support from the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost, the Women's Studies Committee chose the honorees based on nominations from deans of the colleges, the staff and A/P senates, and the Student Government Association.
The poster series concluded on March 31. Below are the women featured in the final week.
Pamela Caldwell
Purchasing Specialist
Department of Facilities Management
Alice Coughlin
Associate Director
Student Activities Operations
Margaret Devaney
Professor and Chair, Department of Dance
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Angela DeVore
Director, Disability Resource Office
Jennifer Glass
Doctoral Candidate, Counseling Psychology
College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences
Nitza Kats
Associate Professor, Department of Music
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Sandra Moore
Director, School of Teacher Education and Leadership
College of Education and Human Development
Connie Phillips
Director, Academic Budgets and Administration
Office of the Provost
Candice Benjes-Small
Associate Professor, Head of Information Literacy and Outreach
McConnell Library
Marjorie Young
Doctoral Candidate, Nursing Practice
Waldron College of Health and Human Services